Esther van der Loos

Started: After being involved in a speed skating accident during a race in 1999, she began Para rowing in 2006. She originally took up the leg, trunk and arms [LTA] coxed four discipline. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016) Reason: She came in contact with the sport during her rehabilitation period. "I was curious and it went pretty well from the beginning." (roeien.nl, 21 Jul 2014) Additional Info: OUT OF RETIREMENT After finishing fourth with rowing partner Corne de Koning in the mixed doubles at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she retired from Para rowing. "I was disappointed because I knew that it would be my last race. We could not have done better, we put everything into it. And it was such a beautiful time. It's the best thing I've ever done!" She then spent time serving as team manager and assistant coach for the Netherlands Para rowing team and also went to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo as a reserve. In late 2023 she reunited with de Koning after his rowing partner Chantal Haenen decided to switch to handcycling. "I still really like rowing, I just doubted whether I could do it. I was out of it for such a long time. But I also thought: if I don't do it, that event won't happen at all. I'll probably regret that a lot. I can try. He [de Koning] is actually still my buddy. He's been staying with me during the week for 11 years [speaking in 2024] because he lives far away [from the training centre]." (nhnieuws.nl, 18 Jul 2024; parawatcher.nl, 11 Mar 2024; roeien.nl, 16 Jan 2024, 19 Aug 2021, 24 Jul 2017; pzc.nl, 05 Jan 2024; teamnl.org, 02 Aug 2022; knrb.nl, 08 May 2020; omroepzeeland.nl, 31 Mar 2017)